IPAN Media release: Landmark report says to scrap AUKUS: It’s time to chart our own course

Landmark report says to scrap AUKUS: It’s time to chart our own course

The Independent Public Inquiry into AUKUS has called for the nuclear-powered submarine program to be cancelled, a Royal Commission into AUKUS to be established, US submarine operations near Perth to be suspended, and Australia’s defence strategy and relationships with Washington and Beijing to be fundamentally reassessed.

The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) fully supports the Inquiry’s calls and urges the Federal Government to provide a public response, halt further implementation of AUKUS and reverse commitments that are contrary to Australia’s security, sovereignty and interests.

The report, Surrendering Australia – The AUKUS Deception, provides a landmark opportunity to chart an independent course based on Australia’s own security needs, sovereignty and regional responsibilities.

The Inquiry is an important exercise in participatory democracy, providing an avenue for the concerns of military and political voices and, most importantly, First Nations representatives and the general public to be heard and documented. 

More than 1,000 submissions were received and over 150 witnesses gave evidence at public hearings held in eight cities. IPAN was part of the Inquiry Secretariat supporting the five Inquiry Commissioners.

The Inquiry Report draws attention to AUKUS as a means to cement and extend the military domination of Australia by the US in its preparations for a war with China. This includes the danger of Submarine Rotational Force–West (SRF-West) operations at HMAS Stirling becoming a nuclear target, as well as the compounding housing, social, safety and radiation risks facing communities near Perth. 

Other communities at direct risk include those in the vicinity of the Osborne Shipyards in South Australia, where the nuclear-powered AUKUS Submarines are to be built. In addition another community may be affected by the yet-to-be-announced East Coast Base, which is proposed to house AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines.

These arrangements are unacceptable and raise fundamental questions about who controls Australian bases. They are contrary to the Treaty of Rarotonga and let down our Pacific neighbors’, said Ms Annette Brownlie, Spokesperson for IPAN. 

‘IPAN believes the Government cannot resolve the nuclear issues relating to safe storage and management of high-level radioactive waste, and that it should not pretend otherwise’, said Ms Brownlie. ‘Further, the costs of waste management are not covered by the estimated $368 billion for the nuclear-powered submarine program.’

There are enough problems in the world without increasing the use of nuclear-powered submarines and the radioactive waste they produce, including spent fuel and reactor components’, said Ms Brownlie. ‘IPAN believes Australia should not be accepting any radioactive waste from any submarines.’ 

‘IPAN calls on the Australian Government to publish a transparent, independent assessment of AUKUS’ costs, liabilities, waste-management arrangements and impacts on defence capability; and develop a self-reliant, non-offensive defence strategy that prioritises the defence of Australia, diplomacy and regional co-operation – for example with China which, as the report asserts, is not our enemy’, said Ms Brownlie. 

‘IPAN also urges the Government to withdraw legislation that reduces parliamentary oversight and further embeds foreign military operations and command arrangements in Australia.’

IPAN supports a policy of non-nuclear armed neutrality, under which Australia maintains an independent capacity to defend its territory and does not use Australian territory or its armed forces in wars between other countries.

IPAN supports the Inquiry’s 16 recommendations to the Australian Government, including:

Terminate AUKUS Pillar I [nuclear-powered submarine program]
Suspend plans for a US naval base near Perth (SRFW) 
Convene a Royal Commission into AUKUS 
Develop a comprehensive national security strategy 
Recalibrate our alliance with the US 
Recalibrate our security relationship with China 
Strengthen regional peace and security
Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) audit of AUKUS
Review and recast AUKUS Pillar II
ENDS